1. “… the conspiracy to torture Jesus to death should not be read in too much of a hurry, with too much eagerness to get the body into the tomb – or beyond. There is meaning in every facet, revelation even in the daily and the mundane. We have not been given a ghostly myth that hovers among the clouds. We have been given the crass story of a political murder in a violent age, a murder committed after the guardians of virtue decided to kill a man because he was too much competition. There is more here than we usually see. There may even be more than we are willing to face. We should ponder every word, envisioning the story as fully as we can.” Stephen Mansfield, Killing Jesus

2. 1.Questions about the Kingdom 2.Questions about the King

4. John 18:36 (NLT) 36 Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.”

5. John 1 (NIV) 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the word was with God and the word was God … 14 The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

6. John 8 (NLT) 32 Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 “But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?” 34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. 35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.

7. John 8 (NLT) 37 Yes, I realize that you are descendants of Abraham. And yet some of you are trying to kill me because there’s no room in your hearts for my message. 38 I am telling you what I saw when I was with my Father. But you are following the advice of your father.” 39“Our father is Abraham!” they declared. “No,” Jesus replied, “for if you were really the children of Abraham, you would follow his example. 40 Instead, you are trying to kill me because I told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing.

8. John 8 (NLT) 41 No, you are imitating your real father.” They replied, “We aren’t illegitimate children! God himself is our true Father.” 42 Jesus told them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me. 43 Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me! 44 For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.

9. John 8 (NLT) 45 So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe me! 46 Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me?

10. John 17 (NLT) 13“Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. 14I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. 16They do not belong to this world any more than I do. 17Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. 18Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. 19And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.

11. John 18:37 (NLT) Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.”

12. The Truth is right in front of us …

13. 1.In the world (general revelation)

14. The Truth is right in front of us … 1.In the world (general revelation) 2.In His world (special revelation)

15. The Truth is right in front of us … 1.In the world (general revelation) 2.In His world (special revelation) 3.In our hearts (by the power of the Spirit)

16. The Truth is right in front of us … 1.In the world (general revelation) 2.In His world (special revelation) 3.In our hearts (by the power of the Spirit) 4.In His people (by the power of the Spirit

17. Truth is not a precept, it’s a Person.

18. “In the last analysis, Christianity is not a philosophy which we accept; it is not a theory to which we give allegiance; it is not something which is thought out; it is not something which is intellectually derived at. It is a personal response to Jesus Christ. It is the answer of the heart to the magnet of Christ. It is an allegiance and a love which a man gives because his heart will not allow him to do anything else.” William Barclay, The Gospel of John, vol. 1

19. How does the truth of who Jesus is affect the deep places of your heart? Is He a threat to your kingdoms that you have built? Is it easier to live with the Barabbas – the thing you know is wrong – than to deal with what the truth of who Jesus is might be calling you to change or do?